THE pressure placed on a woman's appearance at work can affect their ability to move into leadership roles, new research suggests.

University of Adelaide honours student Gemma Killen says her look at the topic, which included a survey of 236 women, found many female workers believe their appearance had contributed in some form to their career success.

A third of the survey respondents also believed their weight played a significant part in how they were viewed at work.

"I was surprised by how many women said people were making comments about their body or appearance at work," Ms Killen said.

"I found the pressure placed on appearance by others in the workplace and the mainstream media could lead women to lose confidence," she said.

"It can mean they are less likely to go for promotions and (it) limits their ability to progress."

Ms Killen said women also felt pressure to appear neither too feminine or too masculine, but somewhere in between.

"A lot felt their appearance had helped them get hired, but had hindered them later on when they were trying to advance at work."

Flinders University Psychology Professor Tracey Wade said the attention given to Prime Minister Julia Gillard's new glasses last week was an example of the unnecessary focus on appearance.

"Society is more geared towards noticing these things in women and we know that having dissatisfaction with your body can be crippling," she said.

Professor Wade's own recent research on body image and the role of perfectionism linked high levels of perfectionism with a lower body mass index.

Thinc management consultancy project manager Katherine Harris said: "I just think whether you're male or female, as long as you're dressed appropriately no further comment should be made."

Ms Killen will talk about her research at a free screening of documentary Miss Representation , which examines the media's portrayal of women, presented by the YWCA, the Women's Information Service and the University of Adelaide at the university at 7pm, Wednesday, February 27. To book, visit missrepresentationadel aide2013.eventbrite.com

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Comments on this story

John Dark Posted at 9:46 AM February 05, 2013

Ummm ... phrases like "...found many female workers believe their appearance had contributed in some form to their career success" and "...also believed their weight played a significant part in how they were viewed at work" means this is a SUBJECTIVE survey. Which means any results are highly suspect. What you believe ain't necessarily so - especially when it comes to women and their self-image. So basically it's just another academic waffle which doesn't reflect truly on the real world.

MP of QLD Posted at 9:33 AM February 05, 2013

Despite much denial, women really do care about how they look to the opposite sex in the workplace, especially when management is male. You can argue and cry sexist all you like, but deep down you know it's true.

Alien of NT Posted at 9:13 AM February 05, 2013

Oh whatever, here we go again. Why not poll men as well? You think a man can just throw on a wife beater and rock up to work not shaved and gut hanging out? yeah right, if anything I, as a man, get more comments directed at my appearance than I can say about any women working in my organization, because it is not politically correct to talk about women's weight, height, age, appearance etc but its perfectly fine for people to call men out for being too skinny, not shaven, smelly etc. It's okay for women to comment on looks, but when a man says something we get articles like this. Many men need to keep up appearances for clients and the business, don't make this another sexist propaganda bs.

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